Sodebo Ultim 3 closes in on Jules Verne Trophy record... but there's a sting in the tail

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Sodebo Ultim 3 closes in on Jules Verne Trophy record... but there's a sting in the tail

by Mark Jardine / Team Sodebo 21 Jan 14:05 GMT 21 January 2026

Sodebo 3 Ultim © Jeremie Lecaudey

After 36 days and 17 hours at sea, Thomas Coville and his team on the trimaran Sodebo Ultim 3 have just 2,000 nautical miles to go on their Jules Verne Trophy record attempt, but the conditions ahead they will have to face in the North Atlantic are the strongest winds and the biggest seas of their entire circumnavigation.

The time to beat, set by Francis Joyon on IDEC Sport in 2016/17, is 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds, meaning they have to cross the finish line between Ushant and the Lizard Point before 8.31pm (French time) on Sunday 25th January.

We bring you the latest video from on board, the forecast and where they currently are.

The Famous Project CIC trimaran is also in the North Atlantic, and have faced a number of issues on board. Dee Caffari gives us an updates as to how they've been dealing with the breakages.

Track the boats:

Sodebo Ultim 3 - sodebo-ultim3.sodebo.com
The Famous Project CIC - trimaran-idec.geovoile.com/julesverne/2025/viewer

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